The Machinery of Government reforms, announced by the Government in 2017, resulted in the merging of the bulk of the Department of Commerce with the Department of Mining and Petroleum to create the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

The new Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s mission is to support a safe, fair and responsible future for the Western Australian community, industry and resources sector.

The organisational structure of our new department brings together like services under five Groups to ensure the community and industry receives the best service possible.

These Groups are:

Resource and Environmental Regulation Group

Responsible for the regulation of one of Western Australia’s largest industry sectors, the Resource and Environmental Regulation Group plays a critical role in building WA’s economy whilst ensuring the State’s resources are developed in a sustainable and responsible manner. 

The Group provides regulatory and policy oversight of the resources sector, in all areas apart from worker safety. The Group also delivers the department’s geoscience functions, reducing risk for explorers and increasing the attractiveness of Western Australia as a destination of choice for resource companies.

The Group consists of the following:

• Resource Tenure
• Resource and Environmental Compliance
• Geoscience and Resource Strategy (including the former Geoscience Western Australia)

Industry Regulation and Consumer Protection Group

The Industry Regulation and Consumer Protection Group will contribute to safer, more responsible actions by traders and industries, the early identification of emerging trends and issues and importantly, a better informed, risk-aware community.

The Group will look after the interests of industry, community and consumers in Western Australia through the significant legislation program it administers and through compliance, conciliation, dispute resolution and enforcement. Additionally, it will maintain and monitor industry-specific technical standards, and use sophisticated analysis and surveillance to monitor industries and behaviours.

The Group consists of the following:

• Building and Energy (formerly Building Commission and EnergySafety)
• Consumer Protection

Safety Regulation Group

The Safety Regulation Group will play a significant part in building and strengthening Western Australia’s economy by ensuring one of its most significant assets, its workforce, operates in a healthy and safe environment where their rights as workers are protected. 

The Group provides regulatory and policy oversight of workers’ health and safety in the resources and general industries sectors and the licensing regime, and safety legislation for dangerous goods, including regulation of the State’s major hazard facilities and petroleum operations. 

The Group is also responsible for the coordination, governance, and consistent management of public sector labour relations and parts of the state’s private sector workforce.

The Group consists of the following:

• WorkSafe
• Mines Safety
• Dangerous Goods and Petroleum Safety
• Labour Relations
• Regulatory Support

Service Delivery Group

The Service Delivery Group will design and deliver services that will meet the needs and expectations of our community, customers and industry. 

The Group will ensure the department is client focused and alert to opportunities to improve and evolve service delivery methods that are efficient and effective and keep pace with the advancement of technology.

Where possible, the Group will collaborate with other agencies to make services easier for customers to access and use.

The Group consists of the following:

• Licensing Services
• Customer Information 
• Investigations for dangerous goods, mines and petroleum safety and WorkSafe

Strategic Business Innovation Group

The Strategic Business Innovation Group will focus on a whole-of-department strategic capability, fostering innovative thinking across the department in support of building a high-performance organisation.

The Group consists of the following:

• Business Innovation
• Strategic Policy
• Internal Audit and Risk

Corporate Services Group

The Corporate Services Group supports the department to achieve its strategic and operational objectives. 

The Group brings together a range of corporate functions, which work collectively to help the organisation plan and operate, by offering specialist advice, effective business systems and internal controls.

The Group consists of the following:

• Facilities Services
• Executive and Information Management Services
• Human Resources
• Finance and Financial Planning